- The American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society have updated their migraine prevention recommendations for adults, replacing the 2012 guidance.
- The guideline advises preventive medication to adults with 4 or more migraine days per month, 4 or more moderate-to-severe headache days per month, or migraine that interferes with work or daily activities.
- The updated guideline also includes both established medications and newer preventive treatments, reflecting advances in migraine research since the last guidelines.
- The guidelines also encourage clinicians to consider a person’s quality of life, the strength of evidence, potential side effects, cost, and other health conditions when selecting a medication.
Migraine is a common neurological condition that may cause severe, throbbing head pain, often on one side of the head, along with other physical symptoms.
During an episode, people may experience nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, visual disturbances, or difficulty thinking. Attacks can last from several hours to several days and may substantially interfere with daily life. Estimates suggest they affect roughly
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and American Headache Society (AHS) have issued a joint practice guideline update with evidence-based recommendations.
The updated guidance, published in Neurology, the medical journal of the AAN, and in
The guideline incorporates evidence on newer migraine-prevention medications alongside established treatments, providing clinicians with guidance on choosing therapies based on factors including effectiveness, side effects, cost, and other health conditions.
Importantly, the organizations suggest that the new guidance means millions more people should be on preventive treatment to help manage their migraine.
Team Health Accessible
Health & Wellness Editorial Team
HealthAccessible editorial team delivers trusted, accessible, and evidence-based health information for everyone.
